Tenchi isn't mine...and I'm using it without permission.

Ayeka stood at the doorway taking one last look at her sister before departing. She hated to leave her and the others but it had to be done. The only way Tenchi would be happy…no, the only way she would be happy was if she left. Left the place that she had grown to know as a home. Left the people who she had grown to know as a family, and left the man that she had grown to love. Silently, Ayeka shut her bedroom and made her way downstairs to leave the house, only stopping to place the notes she had written on the table, and to take one last look at the group picture that was taking at the last picnic they had.

She remembered that day clearly. It had been raining a few days before, and everyone thought that they would have to cancel the picnic, but they were lucky. The rain stopped the night before the picnic was to be held, and they were greeted in the morning by the warmth and light of the sun. Sasami had made an excellent meal like always. It was a mixture of American food and Japanese food, Sasami had said that she wanted to experience what an American style picnic felt like. So the others gave in and ate the hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as the rice balls, and sushi. After the meal was done, they talked for a bit, watched as Sasami and Ryo-Ohki ran around playing with one another, and finally got ready to take the picture. It had become a custom of sorts with them, after every picnic or group activity that they had, they got together as Tenchi’s Father set up his camera, and the all posed for a group shot. It was a good way to preserve their memories of the events that they took part in.

Ayeka gazed around the group as they talked and laughed, and smiled to herself. This was her place, here with her friends, with her sister, and with the man she loved. She could no longer willingly call Jurai home, not after all that she had been through with the others. However she knew that eventually she would have to go back to Jurai and assume the role of ruler, and she had started to dread that day…

She couldn’t remember the exact time or place that this feeling of dread was first born. But she knew it had been there slowly growing for the last few months and as she listened to Tenchi talk it finally hit her. At first it started out slowly but as time progressed the feeling grew until Ayeka could no longer ignore it, or try to hide from it. So she decided to do the only thing she could think of, run.

"Goodbye my friends…" she whispered, as she set the picture back down and picked her bag off the ground.

"Goodbye, Where ya going Ayeka?"

Ayeka jumped when she heard the voice behind her. Slowly she turned to see Ryoko emerging from the shadows behind her, a look of confusion plastered on to her face.

Racking her brain for an answer, Ayeka said the only she could possible think of. "Um, I’m going for a walk Ryoko."

"Oh, well I could use some fresh air…I’ll go with you, you know to keep you company."

Ayeka put the thought that was screaming through her head aside and looked up at Ryoko with a smile on her face. "All right, let’s go."

Quietly the two left the house and started walking towards the lake, exchanging pleasantries about the weather, the day’s meals, and other trivial stuff. The longer they walked the more irritated Ayeka grew, she needed to get away, and fast, but as long as Ryoko was with her she couldn’t.

As they reached the shore Ryoko stopped and turned to face Ayeka.

"Ryoko, what ever is the matter. Don’t you want to continue our walk?" Ayeka asked trying hard not to show her irritation.

Ryoko stared at the princess before speaking, "No, I think we’ve walked far enough."

"What do you mean we’ve walked far enough? If this is an attempt to start a battle it isn’t going to work Ryoko. I do not wish to fight you right now."

Calmly, Ryoko moved over to a near by rock and sat down. "No Ayeka, this isn’t what it’s about. We’ve walked far enough so the others won’t hear us talking. I want to ask you something."

"What, what do you want to ask me?" Ayeka asked the anxiety she was feeling about being delayed evident in her voice now.

Looking up at the night sky Ryoko took a deep breath before continuing. "Where are you going Ayeka? I want to know…and don’t tell me you’re going for a walk, a person going for a walk doesn’t take a bag with them and they don’t leave notes either."

Ayeka turned so her back was towards Ryoko; "It’s none of your business Ryoko."

"Like hell it ain’t!" Ryoko snapped as she teleported in front of Ayeka. "You’re walking off in the middle of the night, leaving Sasami behind. And you say it’s not my business? Look Ayeka, I’m not all that fond of you but I love Sasami like a sister…"

"That’s right Ryoko, it isn’t your business. This concerns me and me alone."

"That’s honestly what you think? Huh?" Ryoko said as she shook her head in disgust. "Well then you’re stupider then I thought! Ayeka, don’t you realize that anything you do affects Sasami as well? You’re the reason she stays on this planet, not because I’m here or Tenchi or any of the others but because you’re here. So don’t think what you’re doing doesn’t concern anyone other then you. It concerns Sasami as well, so that means it concerns the rest of us."

"That’s enough! I have my reasons for leaving."

"And what might those be?"

"You won’t understand Ryoko." Ayeka said as she turned away from Ryoko and stalked off in to the darkness.

Ryoko teleported so that she was standing just in front of the departing princess. Blocking her way once again, she grabbed Ayekas shoulders and looked her hard in the eye. "Ayeka, what are your reasons for leaving? I’m not letting you go till you tell me."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"Because, this doesn’t involve you, or my sister. I know you think it does, but it doesn’t."

Ryoko’s eyes flashed with anger as she pictured Sasami alone and scared after her sister left her.

What happened next was a blur to both women. As Ryoko drew her hand back, and proceeded to slap Ayeka across the cheek. The sound of flesh against flesh echoed across the lake as both women looked at each other in shock. Ryoko pulled her remaining hand off of Ayekas shoulders and looked down at her hands, attempting to figure out what she had just done. While Ayeka crumpled to the ground and proceeded to cry.

"Ayeka, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to." Ryoko whispered as she knelt down beside the weeping princess.

"I…I…I can’t take it anymore Ryoko."

"Come on Ayeka, I didn’t hit you that hard."

"No, that’s not it…"

"Then what is it? What can’t you take anymore?"

Ayeka turned her head away from Ryoko, unable to look her in the eyes and unable to stop the tears. "I just can’t take this…this pathetic excuse for a life that I have."

"What do you mean Ayeka?"

"Look at me Ryoko what do you see?" Ayeka paused to give the pirate a chance to answer, when no answer came she continued. "You don’t know what to say do you? Well, let me say what you would have said for you. I’m pitiful. I ran from my people to be with a man who doesn’t even love me. I abandoned them, and for what? An occasional smile from Tenchi, daily fights with you? Just why did I stay here Ryoko, why…"

"For the same reason that I did, you love Tenchi."

"Is that really the reason I stayed? Part of me says yes, the reason you stayed is to be near the man you love. The man who incidentally doesn’t have a clue as to what I feel for him, and who I highly doubt would return those feelings if he did know. But, there is another part Ryoko. That part says that I stayed here because I wanted a change. I wanted to get away from the expectations of my parents, and my people and be myself, but it hasn’t worked Ryoko. How can I be myself when I don’t know who I am."

Ryoko stared at Ayeka in confusion before answering, "You’re, the crown princess of Jurai."

"That’s what I am, not who I am." Ayeka paused, trying to find the words that would best describe her situation. "I was born in to the position, I have never asked for it. If Sasami was born before I, she would be the next to rule. Who I am is something completely different. Ryoko, all my life I have been living up to other people’s expectations. I was a good girl who did as I was told because it would please my mother and father. I was independent and courageous because it would please the people of Jurai. I was strong, because Sasami needed me to be. And, I love because everyone expects that of me…"

"Ayeka, are you saying that you don’t love Tenchi?"

"No! I am not saying that. I do love Tenchi, from the bottom of my heart, but still, I am starting to question myself about a possible future in our relationship. Unlike you, I have only loved one other man in my life Ryoko. That was Yosho, you know how that turned out…"

"You’re wrong Ayeka." Whispered Ryoko. Ayeka turned her head and looked at the pirate. "There were no one in my life before Tenchi. I spent all my time before I met him, drinking, stealing, and fighting. I’m not proud of that stuff, but I accept it as part of who I am."

"Who you are?" The words were spoken slowly as if Ayeka was surprised to here such words coming from Ryoko. "See even you know, of all the people in the house, no, in the world I thought you would be the one who could best understand my reason for leaving. I guess I was wrong."

"I do understand Ayeka, honest I do, but I still can’t let you go. Sasami needs you, we all need you…"

"Sasami doesn’t need me, she has Tenchi. In her eyes that’s better then having her older sister here. The same goes for the rest of you. None of you need me, you just think you do. Can you honestly say Ryoko, that there hasn’t been a day that you have not thought how much better your life would be, if I were not here? You would have Tenchi all to yourself. You would not have to worry about our constant bickering or any of the traits that you find particularly annoying in me. You could live your life in a drunken stupor, with the man that you love. So do not say that you need me, and do not try to stop me. I’m going, no matter what, I’m going." Ayeka spat out bitterly, as Ryoko looked on wide-eyed in shock.

Starring silently at Ayeka in stunned silence. Ryoko dwelled on what was just said. She was right, nothing could stop her, she could tell by the look in her eyes. It wasn’t the usually snobbish look that made Ryoko feel like a fourth rate citizen, or the fierce look of battle that she had seen many times before. No, this look was different. It was a look that Ryoko had used a countless number of times-usually when she was attempting to beat Ayeka at something having to do with Tenchi-it was the look of determination, Ayeka was determined to do this and if it was up to her she would.